Lot
4004 
Hong Kong, 1867 (Feb. 16) Hong Kong to Boston, Mass., cover franked with Hong Kong, 1865, 8¢ orange buff (13) tied by barred "B62" oval handstamp, manuscript "Per "Colorado" Ship Letter" endorsement at left, reverse with two strikes of "Hong Kong, Fe 16, 67" cds, entered the U.S. mails with "San Francisco, Cal., 10, Mar 21" integral due cds additionally tying stamp and bold red straight line "Steam China" handstamp; sealed cover opening tear at top center and partial backflap, otherwise Very Fine. Estimate $7,500 - 10,000.
ONE OF TEN RECORDED COVERS CARRIED ON THE FIRST RETURN PACIFIC MAIL STEAMSHIP CO. VOYAGE FROM HONG KONG.
Carried aboard the steamship "Colorado" departing Hong Kong on February 17th and transiting Yokohama to San Francisco arriving on March 20th. Mail from Hong Kong addressed to San Francisco was processed on the same day with all other mail processed the next day to correspond to the overland mail dispatch. This is only one of seven examples receiving the "Steam China" handstamp struck in red for this trip.
Realized: $10,500